Body positivity is a continuously talked about movement that’s gained a lot of support in the last few years. Body positivity is the idea that we should embrace and celebrate our bodies regardless of appearance. While this movement has done a lot to change perceptions of ideal bodies in the media, there are still some limitations that come with it. To combat these limitations, people are shifting to a mindset called Body Neutrality.

Limitations to Body Positivity

Body positivity can be great, but there are some possible downsides. Here are a few things to consider:

• Pressure to Always Love Your Body – The expectation to constantly feel positive about your body can be exhausting, especially for those struggling with body image issues or health concerns.
• Focus on Appearance – Though body positivity aims to be inclusive, it still centers physical appearance. The movement can unintentionally reinforce the idea that self-worth is tied to appearance.
• Exclusion of Some Body Types – Despite its inclusive intentions, mainstream body positivity often highlights certain types of bodies while possibly leaving others feeling unseen.

This being said, there are still lots of positives to body positivity, and things to learn from the movement.

What is Body Neutrality?

Body neutrality is about having neither a positive or negative outlook on your body, but approaching it neutrally. The idea is that you neither need to love nor hate your body and focuses on just existing without adding extra emphasis to your appearance. The idea is to focus on what your body allows you to do and the experiences it brings to you. Because this idea promotes thinking about your body less – this may be more sustainable for people than body positivity.

Ways to Start Working on Body Neutrality:

Here are some ideas to start thinking about becoming body neutral.

1. Reframe Your Thinking – Thinking about how your body allows you to experience life rather than focusing on perceived positives and negatives.
2. Practice Gratitude – Try shifting your focus to appreciate your body for its strength, resilience, and abilities.
3. Notice Your Own Self-Talk – Taking time to notice how often and in what ways you speak to yourself can help you gain an understanding of things you may want to work towards.
4. Social Media – If social media is constantly leading you to compare yourself to others, think about lowering your time spent or the way you go about using it.
5. Movement – Focus on moving in ways you enjoy and that make you happy, rather than trying to change your appearance with exercise. Want to learn more about moving in ways that make you happy? Try checking out this post on joyful movement.
6. Wear Clothes That Feel Comfortable – Dress in a way that makes you feel confident and allows you to do what you love throughout the day.

Overall, body neutrality allows for some sustainable changes to the body positivity movement, and may be a good alternative for some people. It can be refreshing to not focus on appearance all the time and instead appreciate your body for all it does each day.

Rachel Brown

Rachel Brown is a Dietetics Student at Idaho State University. She is currently completing her bachelors degree and will be attending ISU for her Masters and Dietetic Internship come Fall of 2025. She plans to become a Registered Dietitian in the future.

Using her knowledge from her coursework and research, she helps write blogs for The Mother Road Dietitian. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Idaho State University Food Pantry and also works on her personal blog (www.rachelelieen.com) which she used to learn about social media marketing, website design, and SEO. In her spare time, Rachel loves to workout, see friends, and travel!